EEG Hyperscanning and Qualitative Analysis of Moments of Interest in Music Therapy for Stroke Rehabilitation – A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Interdisciplinary research into the underlying neural processes of music therapy (MT) and subjective experiences of patients and therapists are largely lacking. The aim of the current study was to assess the feasibility of newly developed procedures (including EEG/ECG hyperscanning, synchronous audio-video monitoring, and qualitative interviews) to study the personal experiences and neuronal dynamics of moments of interest during MT with stroke survivors. The feasibility of our mobile set-up and procedures as well as their clinical implementation in a rehabilitation centre and an acute hospital ward were tested with four phase C patients. Protocols and interviews were used for the documentation and analysis of the feasibility. Recruiting patients for MT sessions was feasible, although data collection on three consecutive weeks was not always possible due to organisational constraints, especially in the hospital with acute ward routines. Research procedures were successfully implemented, and according to interviews, none of the patients reported any burden, tiredness or increased stress due to the research procedures, which lasted approx. 3 hours (ranging from 135min to 209min) for each patient. Implementing the research procedures in a rehabilitation unit with stroke patients was feasible and only small adaptations were made for further research.

Mechanistic research approaches in music therapy for pain: Humanizing and contextualized options for clinician-researchers

“…Though considered less informative in the evidence hierarchy, these qualitative datasets have valid implications for treatment efficacy. Music therapists regularly witness patients' subjective responses within the music-based therapeutic relationship ( 14 ). Therefore, music therapists often advocate for a broader conceptualization of EBP, including rigorous qualitative and mixed methods research ( 15 ).…”

“…Holleman et al argue that researchers should explain their rationale for such designs, defining the design's “naturality” and “complexity”, and recognizing the design's limitations ( 16 ). Data collection, the music experience, and the relationship with the therapist are all affected by the environment, personal experience and situatedness, and therapeutic intention ( 14 ). These factors are particularly important to address when investigating the fluid and subjective phenomenon of pain: clinicians want the freedom to exercise clinical decision-making as much as possible to replicate real-world experiences.…”